Space y France They are measured this Thursday in the Silns League semifinalsa competition that is gaining prestige with the passage of editions. Those of Luis de la Fuente They seek to chain their second title, which would become the first selection that achieves it. However, the duel is marked by the fight they will fight Ousmane Dembelé y Lamine Yamalmain candidates to get the Golden Ball This season.
April 29, 2023 Dembelé He was a direct witness of a historical fact. Barcelona was measured to Betis In the Camp Nou and the Frenchman he jumped to the grass in the 73rd minute replacing Raphinha. Ten minutes later a 15 -year -old boy: Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana. The French and the canterano agreed seven minutes. The only ones who were aligned together for Xavibecause the one of Esplugas He did not play until the end of the season and the 'mosquito' left that summer to the Paris Saint-Germain.
There have been two years of that ephemeris of which there are no images together because Dembelé and Lamine occupied opposite bands. Ousmane was the type of player who aroused Lamine Yamal's curiosity. A Freestyler that followed the path of Neymar, The great reference of Barca, but that did not end up exploding. The Frenchman left for PSG and there Luis Enrique has taken his best version making him a voracious striker.
Dembélé, with his fellow French team. / AFP
Dembelé, 28, has added 33 goals and 15 assists in the 49 games who has played, winning the domestic triplet (League, Cup and Super Cup of France), in addition to the Champions League. Lamine, 17, has added 18 goals and 25 assists In the 55 meetings which has now played, conquering the triplet in Spain, when getting the league, cup and supercopa.
In a few hours, Spain and France will face the pass to the final of the Nuns League at stake, although no one speaks of it. The Barça has subtracted importance to its duel with Dembelé, although it has ended up assuming that it can mark the struggle for the most prestigious individual award.
“If I win the Champions and the World Cup, the Golden Ball will arrive. The important thing is to enjoy and arrive when I have to arrive. If I had to vote, I would give the Golden Ball to the best of the year, not the one who won Thursday's game. But If people want us to play it on Thursday, we will play it. Although I think about winning Thursday and Sunday. It will go wrong if you play thinking you need the Golden Ball, ”he said.
“I had never seen anything like Lamine”
The campaign to support Dembelé started Saturday on the grass of Allianz Arenawhere the PSG thrashed the Inter in the Champions final and where the Nations League final will be played next Sunday. It will be Dembelé France or Lamine's Spain. Luis Enrique highlighted the “leadership and hunger” of Dembelé and the captain of the PSG, the Brazilian Marquinhos, did not stop chanting the 'Dembelé, Golden Ball'.
Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain shows the UEFA Champions League trophy during the Roland-Garros 2025, French Open, Grand Slam tennis tournament on 2 June 2025 at Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, France – Photo Tnani Badreddine / DPPI AFP7 02/06/2025 ONLY FOR USE IN SPAIN. Tnani Badreddine / DPPI / AFP7 / Europa Press;ATP;CHELEM;GARROS;GRAND;ROLAND;SLAM;Sport;tennis;WTA;TENNIS – ROLAND GARROS 2025 – 02/06 / AFP
But in the 'trench' of Lamine there has been a curious phenomenon because they have added referents of French football. Starting with Zinedine Zidanemyth of Real Madrid, who did not bit his tongue when talking about him: “When you see him play as in the semifinal against Inter … I had never seen anything like that in my life. It is enough to see someone who dominates their subject so much on the pitch. It's fabulous to see him like this. To which all young people have to do is Lamine, we all have fun watching him play ”.
Luis Fernándezformer player and former coach of Paris Saint-Germain, in addition to French international, he also has no doubts about it: “I would give the golden ball to Lamine because he is a player who is an example for today Dembelé. “
The achievement of the Champions League by the PSG can unbalance the balance in favor of Dembelé, which is a favorite in the betting houses. Lamine will not play the Club World Cup and that makes you have less maneuvering margin against French. Hence this semifinal between France and Spain is the last assault of Barca to condition the vote in its favor being the only face to face between them.
Lamine Yamal celebrates your team's first goal during LaLiga's game against Villarreal / Toni Albir / Efe
But if the titles were decisive, Dani Carvajal He would have won the Golden Ball last year and this season would take him Fabian, who has Dembelé, his partner in the PSG, adds his status as a current champion of the Nations League and the European Champion.
A performance as in Milan
Half Planet will see this Spain-France in which Mbappé, for the first time in a long time, will not have the focus on him. More than a game, it will be elucidating if that 15 -year -old boy who had seen debuting in April 2023 against Betis is able to snatch the Golden Ball being even a minor. For that to happen, Lamine must perform another extraordinary performance such as Milan before Inter or as the semifinal of the last Eurocup against France, with that majestic goal.
To the Gallic coach, Didier Deschampswho swept home and said that he would give the Golden Ball to Dembélé, left a phrase in his appearance that is probably the largest compliment that Rocafonda has received: “It is an out series. At 17 he already does what the elderly do or what Mbappé did at 18”.